BAYUU KHAMIS YUSUF

Artwork

Country: Zanzibar • Medium: Oil

Bayuu’s townscapes depict a strong connection to his place of birth and are influenced by the narrow streets of both Zanzibar and Tanzania. This can be seen in his works ‘Coffee house’ and ‘Tiputip house’.

His use of linear strokes creates a depth of perspective beautifully representing the alleyways of Stone Town in Zanzibar on which most of his childhood was spent, while his mastery of acrylics make the pieces dazzle just as much as if the best quality oils had been used.

As a professional artist Bayuu has exhibited in Zanzibar, Tanzania and the U.S. He has been commissioned on several occasions, most notably for the UNICEF poster for Mother and Child World Week in the year 2000.

For an artist with such great technique and an eye for composition, Bayuu has not had too much formal education in art, but he shows with his work that he is unquestionably talented as a self-taught artist.

Bayuu was born in Zanzibar in 1973. He has won several awards for his work including a gold medal for the 19th edition of the International Children Art Exhibition Award.